In 2025, three projects on the topic of Research Software Engineering (RSE) were launched at the Berlin office of the German Informatics Society. These have come together to form the RSE Working Group under the academic lead of Julian Dehne. This creates continuity in terms of content: the project ‘Reference Curriculum for a Master’s Degree in Research Software Engineering’ (RSE Master 2025) aims to overcome the historical separation between scientific computing and software engineering (Dehne 2025a). In this way, qualified students can advance computer-based methods as experts in research institutes and academic departments. One potential place of employment is the planned Institute for Research Software, which is being developed as part of the FutuRSI project (FutuRSI 2025). Modelled on the UK’s Software Sustainability Institute, the aim is to ensure that research software does not gather dust in repositories but is actively further developed, with synergies between different research projects being identified at a central hub. Outstanding research software – which serves not just a single project but has been programmed for the wider public in accordance with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) – will in future be recognised by the GI with an RSE Award. Such outstanding projects demonstrate precisely the skills that are to be taught in the curriculum.
Dehne, J., Christ, S., Goth, F., Grad, J.-N., Hagdorn, M., Thiele, J. P., von Waldow, H., Linxweiler, J. (2025a): Research Software Engineering for Natural Sciences. In: Herrmann, A. (ed.): Softwaretechnik Trends, Band 45 (3). Berlin: Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V.
Dehne, J., Thiele, J. P., Schöning-Stierand, K., Goth, F., Linxweiler, J., von Waldow, H., Lamprecht, A.-L. (2025b): Comparing Research Software Engineering and Data Science Competences. In: Bernoth, J. (ed.): Proceedings of the INFORMATIK 2025, Workshop Research Data and Software Competences. Potsdam: Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V.
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